I have been thinking about this for a long time. In some mysterious way, somewhere in the recent history, the idea that "god is love" slipped into the minds of the masses.

But is that true? Is god really love? I really do not think so. Even the Bible or the Qoran don't say this. The fact that god is love and portrayed like a Santa Clause kind of guy with a big beard and a nice smile really has no religious or empirical basis.

So what is god then?

In my opinion, god is not only love. God has some love, but also has a wide choice of other aspects like rage, hate etcetera.

In my opinion, the fact that people are turning their backs on religion is the simple fact that they were told that god was love. When something horrible happened to them, they just could not longer keep that image realistic and turned away from god.

So what do you guys think? How is god like?

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They know... Saddam Hussein is no threat to the US. But at some point he might decide if he had a nuclear weapon to use it against Israel. Gen.W.Clark

People created God in their own image, not the other way around. Hence, the God of the bible is loving, but is also spiteful, vindictive and petty. Just like people.

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

Absolutely right. I think that "God" resembles most often the cultures and paradigms of the people who created him. So, we weren't created in his image...he was created in ours.

Catz

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I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

I still think "God" may exist (although I don't really believe it to be true). But if "God" does exist I honestly don't think it has anything to do with any existing scriptures. Those were created by man and hence reflect the promise and problems of man.

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

You see, the red part is just not true.That's what I find odd.The god in the Bible or the Qoran is pretty mean from time to time.I guess somewhere in recent history, some people came up with the idea that god is love.....according to the scriptures. But, note that the scriptures do not say that he is love! That is the strange part.

Just look at the creation. Sometimes we act like the killers like the white shark, the vicious snake or the deadly scorpions are not his creations.But they really are! So this god that has created has a wide range of personalities and interests. He didn't just create fluffy and things but also evil and dangerous things.

Most people thus have a wrong image of god if they think he is just love and nothing more.

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They know... Saddam Hussein is no threat to the US. But at some point he might decide if he had a nuclear weapon to use it against Israel. Gen.W.Clark

The God of the bible is a complex mixture of love and cruelty, forgiveness and retribution...

just like humans.

Catz

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I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

Exactly.But somehow, only the love part is known to many people, and thus they are constantly dazzled whenever something like the Tsunamis happen. I on the other hand, know that this is all part of Gods complex nature.

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They know... Saddam Hussein is no threat to the US. But at some point he might decide if he had a nuclear weapon to use it against Israel. Gen.W.Clark

Then they ignoring their Bible. The biblical God is petty. He is vindictive. He is violent. He is even sadistic sometimes. If certain people choose to ignore that and only focus on the love and forgiveness that's up to them. What do I care?

Personally, I think the Buddhist explanation of natural disasters is the best one. Tsunami's happen because of science. It's completely normal. It's not wrath. It's not vengeance. It's plate tectonics and nothing more. Geology cares not a lick about people. Doesn't even know they exist. Doesn't care. The plates will move anyway.

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

Whoa.........push pause just for a sec...

read this:
1 John 4:8 (New International Version)
8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.


Now this is basic Christianity 101.......if you didn't remember this verse than I'm guessing you haven't read either the Bible or Quaran....... Now I'm NOT knocking you, all I'm saying is that perhaps you should be familiar with the material that you are ranting and raving about. Even Satan knows the scriptures......and knows them well......

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II Cor 4:18

You probably havent studied the Bible enough. If you read it closely you'll notice that he is full of love. The Jews insult him and turn their back on him every other day, but he keeps coming back to them because he truly loves them.

Things like evil, G-d gives us our own choices, he doesnt dictate what people do.

tsunamis, thats just nature.